Introduction to Privileged Access Management

Abstract

Privileged Access Management (PAM) plays a crucial role in modern cybersecurity. Organizations can significantly enhance their security posture and protect valuable assets by addressing the issues and risks associated with privileged accounts. Implementing a combination of robust policies, technologies, and best practices will help organizations manage the risks effectively while ensuring the availability, integrity, and confidentiality of their systems and data.This article introduces the concepts of managing privileged access and will touch on non-human accounts, including those that are both interactive and non-interactive. It will show that not all privileged access accounts should be treated in the same way. It will explore the scenarios in which PAM solutions can help organizations gain control of privileged access. Different use cases for PAM solutions are explained and illustrated with architecture diagrams. Critically, even when implementing PAM systems, practitioners cannot neglect the human factor (which requires policy, training, and controls). This article concludes with best practices for implementation, adoption considerations, and core guiding principles.